HitH: Chapter 6 - A Hard Landing (IC)

[Tabs]

    "Yes, great day for flying. I feel the need to blow away a few cobwebs. I'm in. Which aeroplane can climb highest? and can we fly it?"

[Mort]

Kirk replies: "Hi John. We may want to go look for something up high. But it's not without risk."

"Flyin's always a risk," John said with a grin. "And planes do go high . . . wait a minute," John looked as though he was remembering some of the conversations from the night before. "How high are we talkin' here?"

Which aeroplane can climb highest? and can we fly it?"

John looked concerned. "All of these planes can make it to twenty, twenty-five thousand feet maybe. But if you want to get up there where the record-setters are going . . . above thirty thousand feet, you're gonna have to modify one of these birds. I don't know of anyone here who is getting up that high. I never have been. It ain't for the faint of heart, that's for sure."

[David68]

Kirk leans back, smiling and looks at Tabs as if feeling sorry for her. He seems unsure what to say now as the task seems a bit too difficult at the moment.

[Tabs]

   "I know of one aircraft which can climb that high--Mr. Riddles. If I can have a good look see at its modifications, well, that'll show me what I need to do to another aircraft.
   "Major, can you get me into Riddles hangar?"

Kirk leans back, smiling and looks at Tabs as if feeling sorry for her. He seems unsure what to say now as the task seems a bit too difficult at the moment.

   "Kirk, don't worry--I am not expecting you to come along. Personally, I find the idea--of a high altitude flight--very exciting!"

[rdanhenry]

"Well, I could probably get you in for a look, although I expect one of the soldiers would keep an eye on things. Maybe we could arrange for you to undo the sabotage you did to the engine. How much of what you did do you remember exactly?"

The Major drains half a cup of coffee in one gulp before continuing. "I also suggest you contact the police before taking off on any flight. They are likely to frown on any unannounced departure with such a potential for, if you will excuse the term, flight from their jurisdiction."

[Tabs]

   "Are you hinting that you don't like the idea?
   "I forgot that I sabotaged Riddle's aeroplane, that is a literal spanner in the works."

   Tabs sits beside Big John and helps herself to a cup of coffee, she refills his cup too.
   "Would you take me up there"--pointing to the clouds--"and perhaps allow me to 'tinker' with your aeroplane beforehand?--pretty please."

[Mort]

The Texan looked at Tabs. He seemed intrigued but uncertain. "You think you could get my little bird to go up that high? I'd have to know what you have planned, but I might be game for that . . . if you can convince me you know what you're doing."

[rdanhenry]

"If you do go, please file a plan of your intentions with the airfield office. Also, go armed, and pray it does you more good than it did poor Joyce-Armstrong."

The Major orders a refill on his coffee, then asks the Texan, "When you found those other buildings in the swamp, did you see any sign of Smith's truck? Or perhaps some form of garage where it could have been parked out of sight?"

[David68]

Kirk listens silently with a slightly concerned look as they argue about what to do next.

[Tabs]

The Texan looked at Tabs. He seemed intrigued but uncertain. "You think you could get my little bird to go up that high?"

 "No doubt about it!"

I'd have to know what you have planned, but I might be game for that . . . if you can convince me you know what you're doing."

   Show me your 'kite,' and I'll prove that I know what I'm doing."


 

"If you do go, please file a plan of your intentions with the airfield office."

   "Of course."

[David68]

Kirk smiles and wishes Tabs and Big John good luck: "I will go check on Smitty and his car. See you later."

[Tabs]

   Tabs asks the Major.
   "If I am to adjust Big John's aircraft for high altitude flight, I must have another looksee at Riddle's aircraft...can you get me into the hangar? A high altitude flight could provide vital clues in your investigation."

[Mort]

Kirk smiles and wishes Tabs and Big John good luck: "I will go check on Smitty and his car. See you later."

Smitty was back in fighting order after a full day and night of rest. His car had been towed to the airfield, and a mechanic from the nearest service station was taking a look at it. Apparently, the car was little the worse for wear, but needed a bit of "flushing" (the mechanic's word) after having spent the night a little less than right-side-up.

Show me your 'kite,' and I'll prove that I know what I'm doing."

The Texan grinned big. "You've got yourself a deal, little lady." His apprehension seemed to be gone, replaced by enough enthusiasm to fill his overly tall hat.

   Tabs asks the Major.
   "If I am to adjust Big John's aircraft for high altitude flight, I must have another looksee at Riddle's aircraft...can you get me into the hangar? A high altitude flight could provide vital clues in your investigation."

The Texan nodded. "Surely you can flex a little brass muscle to get the lady a peek.  We won't cause you any trouble."

[Mort]

"When you found those other buildings in the swamp, did you see any sign of Smith's truck? Or perhaps some form of garage where it could have been parked out of sight?"

The Texan was enamored with the idea of a high altitude flight. He seemed interested in little else at this point, but he spared a moment to answer the Major's question. "Nope and nope. I was flying high, trying to cover as much ground as possible. I just followed the smoke until I saw a few rooftops through the canopy. Didn't see much else. That truck could be parked out in the open with a big "Open for Business" sign on the back of it and you wouldn't see it from the air with all those trees. You have to know the swamp real well just to get a truck back to those houses. That's boatin' territory for the most part."

[rdanhenry]

"If it weren't for the murdered girl," the Major says, "I'd be tempted to write it all off as an elaborate hoax. Let me finish my coffee and I'll talk to the soldiers about having you undo your engine sabotage. That should allow you plenty of time to look things over while you put everything back. I'd like to figure out why Riddle's specimen jars weren't working and fix that before going up, as well as take more extensive precautions."

[Mort]

It was quite easy for the Major to get a look at the plane. The soldiers stood aside to let him enter the hangar without a word. Questioning Majors wasn't exactly in their job description.

Tabs took a good hour to look the plane over. The Texan looked over her shoulder the entire time, ever more impressed with her skill and moxie. When they were done, Tabs was confident she could rig up the Texan's plane to get better high-altitude performance. The Texan was willing to give it a try. Reproducing Riddles "experiment" on the Texan's plane would be another thing entirely. It would require some special equipment . . . which they didn't have . . . unless, of course, they "borrowed" it from Riddle.

The Major looked at all the glass bell jars in the hangar. He could see nothing special about them. They looked like glass.

As Tabs and the Texan finished up their examination, the Major heard a fleet of vehicles pulling up outside and some loud voices.  Army loud.

[Tabs]

   "Phew! Just in time."

[David68]

Kirk is obviously happy about Smitty's recovery and the car's repair. He tells him they will probably stay a bit longer at the airport as they would like to try out a high altitude flight to examine something, more in particular, what Riddle was looking for.

He decides to call Mr. Bennett again and inform him that they truly might have found evidence of something extraordinary, an unknown native or alien life form up high in the skies, but that further proof is needed. He mentions that Tabs would like to investigate it herself with the help of another pilot they met. He explains that since the police now seems fully cooperative, he has good hope that young Dumont might be found quickly.

Kirk then goes to check on Tabs and asks: "How is it going?".

[Tabs]

Kirk then goes to check on Tabs and asks: "How is it going?".

   "Myself and Big John will be ready for the flight shortly. I feel a little tense, but excited, too."

[Mort]

While the army came to claim everything the Major had reported to them about Riddle and clean out the hangar . . . including removing the plane's wings and stowing the entire craft on the back of a large flatbed truck. The techs that showed up were pretty low-level. They weren't analysts; they were just there to collect the materials and carry them back to the real experts.

While the army went to work on the hangar, Big John and Tabs went back to his hangar to get his plane ready to break an altitude record . . . or at least come close and live to tell the tale.